Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. Talk SHORT TERM 12, How Things Changed From Script to Screen, Winning at SXSW, and More

One of the best films I’ve seen this year is writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Short Term 12. The movie picked up the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize (Narrative Film) at this year’s SXSW, and it stars Brie Larson as Grace, a young woman who works at a foster-care facility for at-risk kids, but she also has to face her own demons. While the film deals with serious subject matter, it’s never preachy or melodramatic. Instead, Cretton allows the story to unfold naturally, and you feel like you’re watching real people in authentic situations. It’s absolutely worth your time and money. Short Term 12 also stars John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Keith Stanfield, and Rami Malek. For more on the film, read Matt’s review or watch my video interview with Daniel Cretton.

At the recent Los Angeles press day I landed a video interview with Larson and Gallagher Jr.. They talked about the overwhelming positive reception to the film, winning the awards at SXSW, how much changed from script to screen, balancing the heavy issues without them becoming melodramatic, and a lot more. Hit the jump to watch.

Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. Time Index:

This is serious subject matter. Gallagher says he had faith in the writer from the beginning.

1:30 – Larsen says most of what changed from script to screen was taking out exposition because they found on set they could communicate the emotion on screen.

2:40 – Talk about the work environment and the approach to the heavy emotion.

4:20 – Gallagher didn’t know SXSW had awards, so was shocked that the movie won the Audience Awards and Grand Jury Prize.